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Photograph by Douglas Walker
Accomplished Writer: Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alice Walker passes one of her books to renowned illustrator Catherine Deeter during a booksigning Feb. 2 at the Hicklebee's Bookstore in Willow Glen.
Alice Walker promotes children's book in WG
By Susan Wiedmann
Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Alice Walker visited Willow Glen last week to promote her latest children's book and honor the late African-American poet Langston Hughes coinciding with the beginning of Black History Month.
On Feb. 2 about 200 adults and children crowded into Hicklebee's Bookstore on Lincoln Avenue for a joint booksigning by Walker and noted artist Catherine Deeter. Walker received the Pulitzer Prize in 1983 for The Color Purple. She's also an activist who often speaks about civil rights and women's issues.
The event promoted the 2002 publication of Langston Hughes: An American Poet, a children's book written by Walker in 1974 that now features a lengthy new author's note and memorable illustrations by Deeter. Walker also led the attendees in singing a "Happy Birthday" tribute to Hughes, who was born 100 years ago on Feb. 1. Hicklebee's co-owner Valerie Lewis said Walker had asked the bookstore to host her only scheduled Northern California appearance with Deeter.
Langston Hughes: An American Poet tells the true story of an African-American boy who overcomes racism, poverty and family sorrows, and eventually becomes a respected poet and writer. In her author's note, Walker writes that she was so impressed with what she read of Hughes' childhood that she wanted children everywhere to know about him. She compares Hughes with holy places in the world that, she says, have tremendous amounts of magnetism, energy and power. Walker met Hughes when she was a senior at Sarah Lawrence College in 1965 after he placed her short story, "To Hell with Dying," in an anthology for African-American writers.
The children's book version of "To Hell with Dying" brought the author and Deeter together. In an interview at Hicklebee's before the booksigning, Deeter recalled that in 1987 she was asked to submit an illustration of her interpretation of Walker's story, even though the work of 21 other artists had already been rejected. Once she submitted her artwork, she moved on to another project and was sitting in the same publisher's office when fate struck.
"Suddenly the whole place went electric, then quiet, and everyone left the room," Deeter said. "Soon the head of the children's division came in and said, 'Are you the woman who just changed my life?' I said, 'Gee, I hope so.'"
Walker had notified them that she wanted Deeter's submission to be the book's cover and that Deeter should illustrate the book. In 1991 Deeter also illustrated Walker's children's book, Finding the Green Stone. Today she has a diverse body of work that includes adult and children's book covers, her own children's book, Seymour Bleu, and commercial projects, including the artwork on the box of Celestial Seasonings Red Zinger tea.
The Blevins family also came to Hicklebee's to say hello to Deeter and Walker. Since the late '80s, Marsha Blevins' husband, Andrew, and their three children, Tymon, 23, Troy, 20, and Nicole, 18, have been models for the visual characters Deeter has created in Walker's books. Her illustrations of Langston Hughes are based on Troy, and Tymon was her inspiration for Johnny in Finding the Green Stone.
Other attendees came to Willow Glen from throughout the Bay Area, including enthusiastic teachers who were buying the Langston Hughes book for their classrooms. Erin Tuttle teaches sixth grade at San Anselmo Elementary School in San Jose and said she was impressed with how the book integrates poetry with history.
Rita Coleman, a retired teacher from Foster City, is now a reading coordinator at Costano Elementary School in East Palo Alto. She reads Hughes' poetry to students during Black History Month and said Walker "definitely holds your attention." Virginia Bailey, a special education teacher at Mountain View's Castro Elementary School, said she will use the book "across the board," from geography to language arts.
Unusual autograph requests were also part of the booksigning. Willow Glen resident Heidi Greene took home 14 signed Langston Hughes books for her brother, a teacher in England. He always gives his passing students autographed books by well-known authors at the end of the year, courtesy of his sister's legwork. Another attendee, Melodie Mazer, left with an autographed copy of the Hughes book and two squares of fabric signed by Walker that will become part of a famous authors quilt that her daughter, Ariana, 11, is creating.
Hicklebee's owner Valerie Lewis said she always likes to have some autographed books left at the end of a booksigning for people who can't make it to the event. In that respect, she was disappointed at the end of the day. By the time the booksigning ended, the entire stock of the three Walker-Deeter books was sold out.
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
